?87 Force 125 Water Pump Housing Seal

[Spey]

1254x7b ? 1645 Upper Seal Impeller Housing

Directly below the seal there is a white nylon spacer that is slightly larger I.D. than the drive shaft. There is a groove in the upper rubber lip of the seal where it makes contact with the drive shaft (looks like a retainer coil spring could have been in there around the upper lip?).

1. I?m wondering what kind of pressure is on this seal during operation?
2. Is the seal to hold pressure inside the water pump or keep debris out?
3. Is the seal and/or the white spacer replaceable (vs. replacement of the entire impeller housing)?

Yesterday I bought replacement impeller and gasket for replacement, and during reassembly noticed a very small split in the upper lip of the seal (not thru to the inner ? drive shaft, just on the outside in one location). The seal is still soft and pliable. I?m also wondering if a spring coil retainer should/could be fitted?

Thanks,

 

[john from md]

Re: ?87 Force 125 Water Pump Housing Seal

These are commonly called Garlock seals after the maker of that type of seal. If it has a groove (which happens from use) it should be replaced. Additionally, the portion of the drive shaft that rubs against the seal should be smoothed as much as possible using very fine crocus cloth.

These are easy to change. Drift it out over a hole in a board or large socket. Clean the seat and lube with some engine oil and then drift in the new seal with a socket the same diameter as the outer ring.

There is no sense rebuilding the water pump when the seal can pass water through it instead of the head.

Seals can be obtained from iboats, crowley marine, mercruiser parts etc.

John

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: ?87 Force 125 Water Pump Housing Seal

The white plasic piece is a locator ring. It correctly locates the pump housing during assembly. Since the impeller is located eccentrically in the pump, the plastic ring keeps the drive shaft from loading one side of the seal and causing it to leak.

The seal itself comes with a stainless garter spring around the outside of the sealing lips. (If you are old enough to remember women's seamed stockings and garters, you will know what it is.) This applies slight pressure to the sealing surfaces for a more positive seal. The sealing lips are double lips with a cavity between them thus you will usually see two slight grooves or wear marks in the drive shaft at the sealing point.

The seal keeps pressure inside the pump and is absolutely necessary for good water delivery.

 

[Spey]

Re: ?87 Force 125 Water Pump Housing Seal

John & Frank,

Thank you for your reply's.
Just finished replacement and was surprised how much tighter the new seal was around the driveshaft. I would guess that I was probably loosing some pressure due to the old seal.